CURE releases statement on Afghan hospital shooting

CURE International released the following statement Thursday after a Afghan security guard opened fire on a group of doctors at a Kabul hospital affiliated with the Lemoyne-based charity, killing three American physicians and wounding two others:

“We are grieved to confirm, as has already widely been reported, the CURE Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, was the site of a shooting this morning. Three individuals, including a doctor who served at the hospital, were killed, and two others were injured. The shooter, who was not an employee of CURE, has been identified as a member of the security detail assigned to the hospital, shot himself after the attack. He was initially treated at the CURE Hospital and has now been transferred out of our facility into the custody of the government of Afghanistan. No patients or other staff members were injured.

CURE International has been serving the Afghan people since 2002 and began operating the hospital in Kabul in 2005 at the invitation of the government of Afghanistan. The hospital is focused on maternity and pediatric care and serves 37,000 patients a year.

At this time, the investigation is ongoing and we are working closely with authorities. CURE International remains committed to serving the Afghan people.

Please join us in praying for the families of the victims and those affected by the shooting as well as the ongoing peace of Afghanistan. Dale Brantner, President and CEO of CURE International, is traveling internationally and will release a formal statement after 3 PM EDT.”